Power driven surface finishing device

ABSTRACT

A lightweight, compact, portable, power-driven device that includes an elongate housing having an electric motor therein, which motor can drive either one or two circular surface finishing members that are supported from a forwardly extending extension of the housing, said housing and motor, if desired, being an electrically operated drill. The device is particularly adapted for use in close quarters where it is difficult, if not impossible, to use conventional surface finishing power tools.

United States Patent 1 Bowling POWER DRIVEN SURFACE FINISHING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Dan P. Bowling, 2625 Colt Rd., San

Pedro, Calif. 90732 [22] Filed: Apr. 6, 1972 a [2]] App]. No.: 241,733

[52] U.S.Cl 51/170 PT [51] Int. Cl 1324b 23/02 [58] Field of Search5l/170 PT, 166 R, 166 TS, 168, 51/170 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,597,883 8/1971 Choplin 51/170 PT 2,853,838 9/1958 Richards 51/170 PT Feb. 26, 1974 2,749,563 6/1956 Resser 5l/17O PT X Primary Examiner-Donald G. Kelly Attorney, Agent, or Firm-.William C. Babcock 5 7 ABSTRACT A lightweight, compact, portable, power-driven device that includes an elongate housing having an electric motor therein, which motor can drive either one or two circular surface finishing members that are supported from a forwardly extending extension of the housing, said housing and motor, if desired, being an electrically operated drill. The device is particularly adapted for use in close quarters where it is difficult, if

. not impossible, to use conventional surface finishing power tools.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures al'rsslvez PATENTEDFEB26|974 SHEET 1 0F 2 FIGQ5 1 POWER DRIVEN SURFACE FINISHING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION use in restricted areas.

A major object in devising the present invention is to provide a device that in a first form drives a single rotatable surface finishing member of circular configuration, which member may be either a sander, scaler, wire brush, or saw; and in a second form'of the invention two of said members are rotated concurrently and side-by-side, with the members in the second form being either wire brushes, sanders, scalers or the like.

Another object of the invention is to supply a poweroperated device in which the rotatable members may be longitudinally recessed to extend inwardly over at least a part of the forward portion of the device, and the device, due to this construction, capable of being placed in restricted areas where conventional tools nor-- such devices are bulky, heavy, and are most difficult to mally used for surface finishing purposes cannot be positioned.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device in which a conventional, electrically-operated drill is utilized as the prime mover, and the electric drill concurrently driving two rotatable surface finishing members situated forwardly therefrom. The rotatable members are supported by a frame assembly that includes a clamp that circumferentially engages the exterior surface of the electric drill body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A lightweight, compact, portable, power-driven device that includes an elongate housing having handle means projecting therefrom, which handle means are used in guiding the device during the operation thereof, and the housing having a projection extending forwardly therefrom that may be utilized to rotatably support rotatable members such as wire brushes, sanders, sealers or circular saws. In a first form of the device, a single one of the members is supported normal to the housing that encloses the motor, and in a second form the projection terminates in a protuberance in which shaft means are rotatably supported that are capable of having rotatable members such as wire brushes, sanders, sealers or the like mounted thereon. In one form of the invention the housing and motor comprise an electric drill, with the housing having a frame clamped thereto and extending forwardly therefrom, which frame serves to rotatably support two of the rotatable members side-by-side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS I forward portion of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1 taken on the line 33 thereof,

and illustrating a first form of transmission for driving the rotatable members;

FIG. 4 is a transverse, cross-sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 3, but illustrating a second form of transmission for concurrently driving two rotatable surface finishing members situated end-to-end;

FIG. 5 is a transverse, cross-sectional view of one of the rotatable members shown in FIG. 3 taken on line 5-5 thereof; v

FIG. 6 is a transverse, cross-sectional view of the forward portion of a second form of the device having a rotatable sanding member mounted thereon;

FIG. 7 is a transverse, cross-sectional viewof a wire brush of a structure capable of being mounted on the device shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is the same transverse, cross-sectional view of the device as shown in FIG. 6, but with a circular saw being mounted thereon; 1

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modification of the first form of the devicein which the motor and housing comprise an electric drill (shown in phantom line) and the housing being removably engaged by a forwardly extending frame that serves to rotatably support. two

surface finishing members end to end, and the members being driven by a shaft that is gripped by the chuck thatforms a part of the electricdrill; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, transverse, cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 9 illustrating the ring structure that removably clamps the frame onto the forward external surface of the electric drill housing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First form A of the invention is shown in perspective in FIG. 1, and includes an elongate, rigid housing 10 that has an electric motor 12 situated within the interior thereof. The electric motor 12 is supplied with electrical energy through an electric cord 14' that terminates in a conventional plug 16 that may be inserted into a conventional electric outlet (not shown).

The housing 10 has an elongate extension 18 projecting forwardly therefrom, as may best be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. A drive shaft 20 that is actuated by the motor 1, 2 and 3.'A drive shaft 20 that is actuated by the motor 12 projects forwardly in a longitudinal bore 22 formed in the extension 18. The extension 18 has a protuberance or head 24 on the forward extremity thereof, which head has two oppositely extending transverse bores 26 therein, and the bores having bearings 28 associated therewith, as shown in FIG. 3.

Two driven shafts 30 are provided that are rotatably supported in the transverse bores 26 by the bearings 28. The shafts 30, outwardly from the head 24, have body shoulders 32 formed thereon, and the shafts include first sections 34 of hexagonal or other non- -circular cross section that are, situated outwardly from the body shoulders 32. Shafts 30 also include second sections 36 that are situated outwardly from the first sections, with the second sections 36 being of circularthe shaft adjacent to bearing 38 supports a worm gear 40 that is in driving toothed engagement with two gears 42 mounted on the adjacent ends of the driven shafts 30.

The device A shown in FIG. 1 includes two rotatable cylindrical surface finishing members B. Each of the members 8 includes a' deformable, cylindrical body 41 formed from a stiff resilient rubber or the like, with each body having a longitudinal bore 42 extending therethrough that is of the same transverse cross section as shaft section 34, and one that snugly engages the first section 34 of the driven shaft 30. Each of the bodies 41 has a first recessed end 44 and second recessed end 46. The center portion of each body 41 has two pressure platesror washers, 48 and 50 in contact therewith, with the first washer 48 abutting against the body shoulder 42, and the second washer 50 being in pressure contact with a nut 52 that engages the threads 37.

When the nut 52 is tightened, each body 41 is longitudinally compressed and radially expands. A cylindrical shell 54 is provided that has an abrasive covered external surface such as sandpaper or the like, as shown in FIG. 5, and an internal cross'section such that it may be slidably mounted on one of the bodies 41 prior to the nut 52 associated with that body being tightened. When the nut 52 is tightened, the body 41 is radially expanded and frictionally grips the interior surface of the shell 54 to the extent that the shell cannot rotate relative to the body 41.

In FIG. 3 is will be noted that the first recesses 44 partially envelop the head 24 to bring the adjacent edges of the shells 54 together as close as possible, but without being in rubbing contact with the extension 18. The extension 18, as my best be seen in FIG. 2, has a rigid, upwardly extending block 54 formed as a part thereof, which block has a screw 56 extending outwardly therefrom that slidably engages slots 58 and 60 formed in arcuate-shaped members 62 and 66. The screws 56 are engaged by wing nuts 64 to permit the arcuate-shaped members to be disposed at a desired relationship relative to the extension 18. The lower arcuate-shaped member 62 serves as a guide to at least partially control the pressure that the rotating abrasivecovered shell 54 exerts on the surface 68. The upper arc'uate-shaped member 66 serves'as a support for an arcuate shield 70 that serves to protect the users eyes when the device is in operation.

A modification A ofthe first form A of the invention is shown in FIG. 4, which is identical to the form A other than a single shaft 34' is used, and power from the shaft is transmitted to the shaft 34 through two bevelled gears 72 and 74. Elements in the modified form A of the device are identified on the drawings by the same numerals as used in the first form A, but with primes being added thereto.

The form C of the invention, as shown in FIG. 9, embodies the u'se ofa conventional electric drill 76, shown in phantom line, and includes a pistol type handle 78 and a cylindrical housing 80. A motor driven chuck 82 is situated on the forward end of the housing 80. Two laterally spaced, transversely aligned surface finishing members B" are provided that are rotatably supported from an extension 84 in the same manner as shown in FIG. 3 and 4, with the members B" being driven by rotation of a shaft 86 that is engaged by the chuck 82. Three elongate circumferentially spaced rigid fingers 88 extend rearwardly from the extension 84 to engage conventional engageable means 90 mounted on a ring 92 that encircles the cylindrical housing 80. Ring 92 is held in position on drill 72 by a conventional, manually-operated wing nut tightening assembly 94. Thus, form C of the invention permits a conventional electric drill to be used'not only for its intended purpose, but

for surface finishing purposes as well.

A still further form D of the invention is shown in FIG. 6 which includes a housing 96 in which an electric motor (not shown) is situated. Housing 96 has an extension 98 projecting forwardly therefrom that develops on its forward end into a tapered head 100. Extension 98 and head 100 have bores 102 and 104 therein, with the bore 102 having a bearing 106 associated therewith that rotatably supports a shaft that is driven by a motor (not shown) in housing 96.

The bore 104 also has a bearing 110 associated therewith that supports a shaft 112 that projects outwardly from the head 100, as may be seen in FIG. 6. The outwardly projecting portion of the shaft 112 has a body shoulder 114 thereon. The shaft 112, outward from the body should 114, develops into a first section 116 of hexagonal transverse cross section, and the first section 116, on the free end thereof, develops into a second section 118 of circular transverse cross section. The second section 118 has threads 120 formed on the external surface thereof. A resilient, deformable cylindrical body 122 that has a longitudinal bore 124 therein which conforms to the first section 116 is provided. with the body being mounted on the first section, as shown in FIG. 6. The body 122 has a first recessed end 126 thatextends at least partially around the protuberance 100. The body 122 also has a second recessed end 128. The threads 120 may be engaged by a nut 130. The form D of the invention operates in the same manner as the forms previously described, but with only one surface finishing member being utilized.

Cylindrical resilient body 122', as shown in FIG. 7, may be mounted on the shaft section 116, as was described in connection with the form of the invention shown in FIG. 6, and when so mounted a cylindrical shell 138 that has wires 140 projecting outwardly therefrom may be engaged by the member 122'.

By a slight modification of the device shown in FIG.

6, a circular saw blade 141 may be driven. In this modi-.

fication of the device, as shown in FIG. 8, the shaft 112 is replaced by a shaft 112' that has tapped bore 142 extending inwardly from the forward end thereof. The tapped bore 142 is engaged bya bolt 144 having a head that grips the central portion of the blade 141 between the free end of the shaft 112 and the head 100. A shield 146 may be secured to the head 100 by conventional means, not illustrated.

The extensions 18 and 18 and heads 24 and 24', as well as the extensions 98 and head 100, are preferably formed of two-piece constructed to permit the shafts and'gears to be inserted therein, and the pieces being held together as integral units by conventional pins or fastening means E.

The use and operation of the various forms of the invention have been described previously in detail and need not be repeated. I claim: v

1. A power operated surface finishing device of the type that includes an elongate rigid housing having a forward and rearward end that has an electric motor therein, means for supplying electric power to said molarged head on the forward end of said extension, said extension having a longitudinal bore therein that is in communication with a transverse bore in said head, said device being characterized by:

a. first shaft means in said longitudinal bore that are driven by said motor,

b. second shaft means rotatably supported in said transverse bore, said second shaft means projecting from opposite sides of said head;

c. a pair of body shoulders on the projecting portions of said second shaft means;

d. gear means for transmitting'rotary motion from said first to said second shaft means;

e. two elongate cylindrical bodies formed from a resilient, deformable material, each of said bodies having a first recessed end and a second end between which a longitudinal bore extends, said longitudinal bore being engaged by the projecting portion of one of said second shaft means, and said first recessed end extending partially around said head;

f. two cylindrical shells having surface finishing exterior surfaces which shells slidably and snugly engage exterior surfaces of said bodies;

g. first means operatively associated with the projecting portions of said second shaft means for longitudinally compressing said bodies between said body shoulders and said first means to not only removably hold said bodies in non-rotatable positions relative to said second shaft means but to radially expand said bodies for the latter to functionally engage the interior surfaces of said shells whereby said shells rotate concurrently with said bodies when the latter are rotated by said second shaft means, and said shells when mounted on said bodies having adjacent edges that are adjacently disposed to one another;

h. manually adjustableguide means supported from said extension that contact said surface being finished to at least partially regulate the force that said body supported abrasive covered shells exert thereon as said bodies and shells are driven by said motor;

. a plurality of spaced fingers secured to said extension;

j. a clamp ring extending transversely about said housing; and

k. second means on said clamp ring for engaging said fingers to support said extension forwardly of said electric drill when said first shaft means are engaged by said chuck.

2. A power operated surface finishing device as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes:

i. a manually adjustable safety shield supported from said extension for protecting the eyes of the user when said device is in operation.

3. A power operated surface finishing device as defined in claim 1 in which said second shaft means are two coaxially aligned transversely spaced shafts rotatably supported in said transverse bore, and said gear means being a worm gear on said first shaft means that engages gears on the adjacent ends of said two transverse shafts.

4. A power operated device as defined in claim 1 in which said surface finishing exterior surfaces of said shells are defined by a plurality of abrasive particles adhered to said exterior surfaces.

'5. A power operated device as defined in claim 1 in which said surface finishing'exterior surfaces are a plurality of short spaced wires that-project outwardly from the exterior surfaces of said shells. 

1. A power operated surface finishing device of the type that includes an elongate rigid housing having a forward and rearward end that has an electric motor therein, means for supplying electric power to said motor, handle means on said housing for manually manipulating the same, a rigid extension projecting from said forward end and coaxially aligned therewith, a rigid enlarged head on the forward end of said extension, said extension having a longitudinal bore therein that is in communication with a transverse bore in said head, said device being characterized by: a. first shaft means in said longitudinal bore that are driven by said motor, b. second shaft means rotatably supported in said transverse bore, said second shaft means projecting from opposite sides of said head; c. a pair of body shoulders on the projecting portions of said second shaft means; d. gear means for transmitting rotary motion from said first to said second shaft means; e. two elongate cylindrical bodies formed from a resilient, deformable material, each of said bodies having a first recessed end and a second end between which a longitudinal bore extends, said longitudinal bore being engaged by the projecting portion of one of said second shaft means, and said first recessed end extending partially around said head; f. two cylindrical shells having surface finishing exterior surfaces which shells slidably and snugly engage exterior surfaces of said bodies; g. first means operatively associated with the projecting portions of said second shaft means for longitudinally compressing said bodies between said body shoulders and said first means to not only removably hold said bodies in nonrotatable positions relative to said second shaft means but to radially expand said bodies for the latter to functionally engage the interior surfaces of said shells whereby said shells rotate concurrently with said bOdies when the latter are rotated by said second shaft means, and said shells when mounted on said bodies having adjacent edges that are adjacently disposed to one another; h. manually adjustable guide means supported from said extension that contact said surface being finished to at least partially regulate the force that said body supported abrasive covered shells exert thereon as said bodies and shells are driven by said motor; i. a plurality of spaced fingers secured to said extension; j. a clamp ring extending transversely about said housing; and k. second means on said clamp ring for engaging said fingers to support said extension forwardly of said electric drill when said first shaft means are engaged by said chuck.
 2. A power operated surface finishing device as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes: i. a manually adjustable safety shield supported from said extension for protecting the eyes of the user when said device is in operation.
 3. A power operated surface finishing device as defined in claim 1 in which said second shaft means are two coaxially aligned transversely spaced shafts rotatably supported in said transverse bore, and said gear means being a worm gear on said first shaft means that engages gears on the adjacent ends of said two transverse shafts.
 4. A power operated device as defined in claim 1 in which said surface finishing exterior surfaces of said shells are defined by a plurality of abrasive particles adhered to said exterior surfaces.
 5. A power operated device as defined in claim 1 in which said surface finishing exterior surfaces are a plurality of short spaced wires that project outwardly from the exterior surfaces of said shells. 